AAPL
About AAPL

History

AAPL unites close to 12,000 landmen and land professionals through 38 affiliated local associations across North America. We encourage fair trading terms that work in the interest of all parties, wise utilization of natural resources, and responsible stewardship of the land's surface.

A timeline of AAPL's history

1955
1955
1956
1956
1958b
1958
1960
1960
1964
1964
1975
1975
1976
1976
1979
1979
1980
1980
1982
1982
1983
1983
1985
1985
1988
1988
1992
1992
1993
1993
2001
2001
2003
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
2009
2009
2010
2010
2011
2011
2012
2012
2014
2014
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2019
2019 - 3
2019
2020
2020
2021
2021

AAPL was Founded & the First Annual Meeting was held in Fort Worth

AAPL opened national headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

PLM Degree program was established at OU • The Landman Scholarship Trust was established

Landman journal was established

Board approved "Active" membership for independents

Female representation in AAPL membership was at 10%

AAPL Model Form Joint Operating Agreement underwent extensive revisions

Ronald Reagan spoke at Annual Meeting in El Paso

Standing Ethics Committee was established • AAPL instituted the Certified Professional Landman (CPL) program

The first AAPL CPL Review and Examination took place

AAPL Educational Foundation was formed

AAPL celebrates 30th Anniversary and board approves construction of headquarters building in North Fort Worth

AAPL past presidents assisted current President Phil Fleming in official ribbon-cutting ceremony for new headquarters building

AAPL changes the word "Petroleum" to "Professional" in its name

North American Prospect Expo (NAPE) was created by AAPL, hosting 80 exhibit booths and 800 attendees • Texas HB 520 passes. This bill amends the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act as it applies to landmen

AAPL unveils new logo and new Landman magazine design

Landman 2 mini-magazine is added to supplement bimonthly Landman magazine

AAPL receives PR News' Platinum Award for its Annual Report/Calendar

AAPL Board approves addition of "Senior" Membership category • First Summer NAPE Expo is hosted

AAPL gives more than $200,000 to Katrina Rebuilding effort

Defeated bill to license landman under the Texas Real Estate Commission

AAPL Member Mark created

AAPL's Company Recognition Program is established

Energy Advocates Association recognized AAPL as "Association of the Year" • Model Form 610 Horizontal Modifications (Horizontal JOA) created

AAPL purchases new Headquarters Building located near downtown Fort Worth • AAPL added $4 million to the Landman's Scholarship Trust Fund

Field Landman Task Force created • Retired CPL program instituted

Pamela D. Feist elected as first female president of AAPL • Contract Center launch of the 2015 JOA Model Form

Mentorship Program established • Disaster Relief Fund established as part of the Educational Foundation with AAPL donating up to $1 million to support members affected by Hurricane Harvey

Male to female membership ratio in AAPL is 73% to 27%

President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush keynote the NAPE Charities Luncheon • AAPL Honorary Membership is extended to President George W. Bush

AAPL refreshes its brand identity with a new logo and tagline - Powering the Profession

In an effort to help members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Annual Meeting is made free for all attendees

Via a partnership with Scantron, all certification testing is moved online

Evolution of the Association

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The Evolution of a Landman

How has the land profession changed since the 1950s? In 2022, AAPL developed an outreach video titled The Path of the Landman — Powering the World to help tell the historical and hopeful story of the land professional and the opportunities that exist for land professionals in the energy industry. View a clip of the video below or watch the complete video on AAPL's YouTube channel.